Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1887-09-03
THE RALLY.
A Good Crowd, Some Fine Speaking,
and Magnificent Rain Here
Last Friday.

Last Friday.
The day for the grand rally came,
and with it came the rain from morn
till night; but the people came also,
and the Hon. John M. Bright, and
Col. James II. Holman, Of Fayette-
vile, and the Hon. G. Marchbanks,
of Sparta, and Geo. w. Cross, of Man
chester, came to address the people.
The speaking was opened by an able
and most polished address by Gener-
al Bright. He argued the question
in all its phases and held the large
audience with his charming eloquence
throughout his speech. His speech
was high toned, eloquent and to the
point. 1t was pronounced a fine adj
dress. No fair minded man could re-
sist his conclusion, that the pending
amendment would not abridge the
rights and privileges of the citizen,
that the loss of the revenue to the
State would not embarrass the State,
and that the effect on the peace and
good order of society would be beneti-
cial.
Col. James H. Holman followed in
one of his happiest efforts. Heshow-
ed that according to the bill of rights,
which is higher than the constitution
itself, the effect and purpose of good
government is the peace, safety and
happiness of the people. He argued
that the prohibition of the manufac-
ture and sale of whisky as a beverage
were not productive of peace, safety
and happiness of the people. He al
gued that on the contrary it is gener-
rlly conceded, and 1t is true, that the
traffic sought to be prohibited is in
furious to the peace, safety and hap
piness of the people, and hence if the
object and end of good government is
peace, safety and happiness, the
legislature ought to prohibit it. His
argument was we'll put and quite ir-
resistable. He was much applauded
by the audience, as he welded his
sledge hammer in crushing the fiimsy
objections argued against the amend
ment. We have not heard stronger
speech during the canvass.
Col. Holman was followed by Mr..
Marchbanks, in a speech that no one
but Mr.. Marchbanks can make. He
dwelt at some length on the various
issues made and carried the audience
by storm. He met all the objections
urged against the amendment in a
clear and forcible style that brought
, conviction to all who heard him.
His logic, sarcasm, and wit prepared
the audience for trip home through
the rain without regrets for the trip
to town.
, In the morning a large crowd of
, women and children had met at the
t Christian church for the purpose of
} going from there 10 the College
grounds to hear the speakers. The
rain kept them in the church, and at
their request George w, Cross, Esq,
7 went to the church and delivered a
, very handsome address on temper
: ance, and the duty they had to per-
: form in this canvass.
l They were highly pleased with his
f address. The large crowd of ladies
l regretted that they could not hear
the speeches of the other gentlemen,
3 but as the lecture room was crowded
3 with voters, they did not desire to
crowd them out.
e The prettiest sight of the day was
the little Band of Hope at the Chris
r tian church. The forty or fifty little
l girls who were there with the blue
: ribbon on will make their influence
: felt some day in this great movement.
There was much preparation made
: by the ladies of the town and county
+ to feed the people from baskets filled
t with good things, but the incessant
I. rain made it impossible for them to
D bring their baskets from home, and
they had no where to spread the din
d. uer if they could have brought it, but
r in the mud on the streets. They
0 were much mortified that they were
: prevented from feeding the large
< crowd in town and they reserve the
right to try it again.